~ pulling this one off the shelf ~
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Special Group parades took place between February 7th and 8th, 2016, at the Marquês de Sapucaí, with exclusive broadcast on TV Globo. The schools in the Special Group in 2016 were, in order of presentation: Estácio de Sá, União da Ilha, Beija-Flor, Grande Rio, Mocidade, Unidos da Tijuca, Vila Isabel, Salgueiro, São Clemente, Portela, Imperatriz, and Mangueira. The grand champion was Estação Primeira de Mangueira, with a theme about the singer Maria Bethânia, entitled "Maria Bethânia: The Girl in Oyá's Eyes". The other champion schools were Unidos da Tijuca, Portela, Salgueiro, Beija-Flor, and Imperatriz, and the school relegated to the Série A was Estácio de Sá.